Now Commenting On:

Lamb eager for more after first Cactus League outing

SURPRISE, Ariz. - For Royals left-hander John Lamb, Saturday must have seemed like Opening Day for the rest of his career.

Lamb, who has been working his way back from Tommy John surgery since 2011, came to the mound in the fifth inning to face Texas in a long-delayed visit to Major League surroundings.

And, yes, he had a case of the nerves.

"Absolutely. For one, I was coming out of the bullpen for only the second time in my career. And I was anxious out there, just standing around," Lamb said. "But just getting back out in front of that baseball atmosphere again was pretty exciting. It was just a fun day for me."

Lamb threw 20 pitches, 16 for strikes, in his one inning of work. He gave up four hits but just one run, on an RBI double by Eli Whiteside. Lamb thought his pitches were effective.

"It looked like it was coming out pretty live," Lamb said. "I felt good out there. Command could always get better. Other than that, I don't like watching runs score when I'm pitching."

No problems with his surgically repaired left elbow. He wanted to pitch another inning.